How to Build Wall-Mounted Shelves for Slot Car Tracks

Don KressUpdated February 21, 2017

Building a wall shelf for slot car tracks allows you to create an attractive, exciting track while minimising the amount of storage space it will consume. Designing the shelf to fold up against the wall makes good use of space in your home while giving you the opportunity to enjoy your track without having to spend time setting up.

Lay out two 2-by-4 boards in your work space, each 8 feet long. Cut another 8-foot 2-by-4 board in half to complete the frame's outer rectangle. Cut one more 8-foot board into two 4-foot sections and lay these in the middle of the framework, approximately two feet apart, to form centre braces for the board. Screw all pieces together using a framing square to ensure corners meet at 90 degree angles.

Lay the sheet of plywood over the frame and use screws to secure it into place.

Install a header board against the wall to which you intend to mount the board, ensuring it is at least five feet from the ceiling and level. Secure the header board to the wall by screwing it into the studs behind the wall. Use at least eight screws for this.

Install three of the hinges onto the frame board, ensuring the pins are at the top. With the pins at the bottom, the board will fold down rather than up.

Have two assistants hold the frame board up while you screw the hinges into the header board. Unfold the board so it is even with the ground, and measure the distance from the bottom of the frame to the floor. Cut two additional 2-by-4 boards at this length to use as legs. Install these with the last two hinges so that as the board is closed, they fold automatically against the wall, and when the board folds down, they open automatically to support your slot car track.

Tip

Have a few assistants on hand to help you with the construction of your track shelving.

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About the Author

Don Kress began writing professionally in 2006, specializing in automotive technology for various websites. An Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician since 2003, he has worked as a painter and currently owns his own automotive service business in Georgia. Kress attended the University of Akron, Ohio, earning an associate degree in business management in 2000.